India Philanthropy Alliance Names Winners of 7th Annual Youth Essay Competition
Middle and high school students tackle pressing issues facing India through research, writing and proposed solutions
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Young writers from across the United States are being recognized for their ideas on some of the most pressing social challenges facing India as the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) announces the winners of its seventh annual Youth Essay Competition.
This year’s competition, themed #YouthWithPurpose, drew a record number of submissions from students across the country, as well as U.S. citizens living abroad. The competition challenges middle and high school students to examine critical issues affecting India and develop thoughtful, research-based ideas for addressing them.
The two winning students will travel to Dallas on September 29 to present their essays at the Indiaspora and IPA Philanthropy Summit at the Communities Foundation of Texas.
“We believe that young people bring fresh perspectives to complex social challenges and can inspire innovative solutions,” said Alex Counts, executive director of the India Philanthropy Alliance. “This competition reinforces that students have the power to shape India’s future through creative ideas and a commitment to making a difference.”
Students Focus on Education and Gender Equity
This year’s high school winner, Aditi Soham, focused her essay on the need to bridge India’s inclusive education divide, particularly for neurodivergent and differently abled young people.
“One of India’s most relevant, unresolved developmental crises has been silently hurting the country’s progress: the lack of resources for neurodivergent and differently abled youth in the education system,” Soham wrote.
As part of the prize, each winner is able to designate a nonprofit organization to receive a $1,000 grant from IPA. Soham selected Dharithree USA to receive her award.
Middle school winner Naga Prerani Kasula addressed another longstanding social issue in her essay: female infanticide.
Kasula said the issue is close to her heart and that she wanted to bring greater awareness to a problem that continues to affect communities in India and around the world. Her proposed solutions combine technology with long-term education aimed at changing attitudes and preventing discrimination.
“True progress will happen when society not only prevents discrimination against girls but also changes the underlying beliefs,” Kasula wrote.
Kasula will direct her $1,000 nonprofit grant to Invisible Girl Project.
The winning students, along with runners-up and finalists in both the middle school and high school categories, will have their essays published by the India Philanthropy Alliance.
Encouraging Youth to Engage in Philanthropy
Launched in 2020, the IPA Youth Essay Competition was created to encourage young people to explore philanthropy and global problem-solving through research and writing.
The competition is open to middle and high school students who are U.S. citizens or residents. Participants are asked to identify important challenges facing India and propose ways that individuals, communities and organizations can contribute to solutions.
The annual program reflects IPA’s broader effort to engage younger generations in philanthropy and encourage them to think critically about social and economic issues affecting India.
The competition is sponsored by Sehgal Foundation, Ujala Foundation, Mamta Bhandari, and the Gupta Giving Fund.
A Growing Network for India-focused Philanthropy
The India Philanthropy Alliance is a U.S.-based network of nonprofit, philanthropic and charitable organizations that mobilizes people and funding in the United States and elsewhere to support development and poverty-reduction programs in India.
The organization was established to bring greater coordination to philanthropy focused on India and to strengthen the ability of nonprofits to address community needs.
IPA’s 22 core network organizations include Aarti for Girls, Agastya USA, Akanksha Education Fund, Akshaya Patra, American India Foundation, Antara International, Arogya World, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment USA (ATREE USA), Children’s Hope India, CRY America, Community Pure Water, Foundation for Excellence, Indiaspora, Karya, Milaan Foundation, Pratham USA, Sehgal Foundation, Teach for India U.S., Vibha, Vicente Ferrer Foundation, VisionSpring, and WISH Foundation.
For the students participating in this year’s competition, the program offers an opportunity to move beyond the classroom and engage directly with questions of social change, philanthropy and community development.
The September 29 summit in Dallas will give the two winners a chance to share their ideas with philanthropic and community leaders while highlighting the role young people can play in shaping conversations about India’s future.
